Tablas Rhythms and Playing Tips
There are many rhythm combinations used in Middle Eastern music and if you include related musical practices from the Balkans and Mediterranean there are hundreds of them! This page will focus on the more common rhythms especially those commonly used in Middle Eastern dances. Before you jump into the rhythms though, you should familiarize yourself with the various sounds of the Tabla and the notation style I will use on this page.
The Tabala Sounds you will hear will be:
Doum: played by slapping the center of the drum with your dominant hand and pulling your hand back quickly (like playing hot potato). It creates a low deep resonating sound.
Tek: played by slapping the rim of your drum with your dominant hand. The tips of the fingers actually do the striking. Depending on the angle you hold your drum and your hand shape this will usually be either the pinky, ring, and middle finger or the ring, middle, and index finger. It creates a higher pitched sharp sound with little resonation.
Ka: played by slapping the rim of your drum with the non-dominant hand. The tips of the fingers actually do the striking. Depending on the angle you hold your drum and your hand shape this will usually be either the pinky, ring, and middle finger or the ring, middle, and index finger. The non-dominant hand generally does not move much and sits towards the top of the drum. It's main job is to play the ka sound on its own or in combination with tek. It creates a higher pitched sharp sound with little resonation.
Teka: played by playing tek and ka in immediate succession first the dominant hand (tek) then the non-dominant hand (ka). This creates a quick series of sharp sounds which fill in patterns.
Slap: played by striking the middle of the drum with your dominant hand but not pulling it back this creates a slightly sharper sound similar to the doum but it is muted so it doesn't really resonate.
Rim roll/Flicking: Played by either quickly tapping the fingers against the rim or by flicking them. This creates a rapid series of ka's that are often used to build to a crescendo often at the end of a song. In Turkish teqniques this is often a series of flicks done in the center of the drum as opposed to the rim. The thumb is placed on the skin with light pressure and then the pointer finger is flicked. The hand slides out towards the rim or in from the rim usually in a series of four flicks. Alternately, some players will just flick the pointer, middle, ring, than pinky in succession.
p(ause): a silence which is not played. It is a rest or pause in the pattern usually lasting no more than one beat.
Note that I have assigned a color to each of these. This is to visually help you see what the rhythm is for quicker reference. On this site I will color code all of the rhythms but I will also wirte out the sounds just as you see here. Another common notation is to abbreviate these as D (Doum), T (Tek), k (Ka), Tk (Teka), p (Pause), rr (roll) or f (flick), and S (Slap). You will see this abbreviated form as well as the fully written version. Some people when first learning like the fully written version and then once they get the pattern like to use the abbreviated form. So I have provided both and you can determine which you prefer to read. When you watch the videos you may see other styles of rhythm notation as well. The ones here on this site are the ones I personally prefer but that does not make them the best or most correct form so if you like a different notation style please adapt the rhythyms here to your preferred style. To hear and see these sounds demonstrated watch the videos below.
There are a wide variety of rhthyms especially if you take into account all of the various North African, Mediterannean, Persian, and Middle Eastern rhythms out there. Throw in historical patterns no longer commonly in use and the numer is even higher. This site focuses mostly on the more commonly used rythyms, especially those commonly used in dance.
Now that you've familiarized yourself with the basic sounds and technique your ready to start learning the actual rhythm patterns. Sometimes the same pattern has more than one name, when this happens the more proper name will appear first and the other name will appear after that in parenthesis. Another important thing to understand about these rhythms is "fill," all rythyms have a very basic pattern. The patterns can be elaborated on by adding in extra sounds between the existing base pattern (the fill). So you will always see the basic pattern first followed by filled patterns. Sometimes patterns that are more filled are called by a different name. So you will find that Middle Eastern rhythms have families that they belong to which means they share a similar or the same basic pattern but have different fill or have a variation to the pattern but still recognizably within the same timing rhythm. Many rhythms are in the 4/4 time signature but there are also wide ranges of signatures from 8/8, 2/4, 6/8... there are even more unusual time signatures among more historical patterns of various muwashahat. Sometimes the same basic rythym pattern is played in more than one time signature and may be called something different in the other time signature. So, ready to get started?
To quickly navigate to a specific rythym you can click on its name below or simply scroll down till you find it.
AYUB (أيوب) / ZAR (زار) 2/4 |
Basic 1: Doum Ka Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - - K D - T -
Basic 2: Doum Tek Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - - T D - T -
Light Fill: Doum Teka Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - -TK D - T -
Medium: Doum Ka Teka Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - KTKD - T -
Advanced: Doum Ka Teka Doum Slap
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - KTKD - S -
BOLERO (بوليرو) 4/4 / RHUMBA (رومبا) 2/4
Basic (2/4): Doum p Tek Doum
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - - - p - - - - T - - D - - -
Medium 1 (2/4): Doum Teka Tek Ka Tek Ka Doum Ka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - TK - T - K - T - K - D - K -
Advanced 1 (4/4): Doum Ka Ka Tek Ka Ka Tek Ka Tek Ka Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - K - K - T - - - K - K - T - K - T - K - D - - - T - - -
Advanced 2 (4/4): Doum Teka Teka Ka Ka Tek Ka Tek Ka Doum Ka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - TKTKKKT - - - K - - - T - - - K - - - D - - - K - - -
CHIFTITELLI (Çiftetelli) / WAHID KABIR (واحد كبير) 4/4
Basic: Doum p Tek p Tek Doum Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + - skip to 1:36 to see chiftitelli demos
D - - - p - T - - - p - T - - - D - - - D - - - T - - - p - - -
Medium: Doum p Tek Tek p Tek Tek Doum Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - T - T - - - T - T - - - D - - - D - - - T - - - p - - -
Advanced: Doum Teka Tek Teka Doum Tek Teka Doum Doum Teka Teka Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - TK T - T TK D - T - TK D - - - D - - - TK TK T - - -
FALAHI 2/4 (فلاحي) / WALKING MAQSOUM 4/4 ({walking} مقسوم)
Basic (2/4): Doum ka ka Doum ka
1 - + - 2 - + -
D K - K D - K -
Medium(2/4): Doum Teka Tek Doum Ka Teka
1 - + - 2 - + -
D TK T D K TK
Basic (4/4): Doum Tek Ka Tek Doum Ka Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - K - T - D - K - T - - -
Basic (4/4) with bridge: Doum Teka Tek Doum Ka Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - K - T - D - K - T - TK
GHAWAZEE (غوازي) / SAIDI (صعيدي) 4/4
Basic (Ghawazee): Teka Doum Tek p Doum Doum Teka Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
TK D - T - p - D - D - TK T -
Medium (Ghawazee): TekaDoumTek TekaDoumDoum Teka Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
TK D - T - TK D - D - TK T -
Basic (Saidi): Doum Tek p Doum Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - p - D - D - - - T - - -
Medium (Saidi): Doum Tek Teka Doum Doum Teka Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - TK D - D - TK- T - TK
Advanced(Saidi): DoumKaSlapKaKaDoumDoumDoumTekaSlapTeka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D K S - K K D D D - TK S - TK
KARSILAMA (karşılama) 9/8
Basic: Doum p Tek p Doum p Tek Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 -
D - - - T - - - D - - - T - T - T -
Medium: Doum Ka Ka Tek Ka Ka Doum Ka Ka Tek Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 -
D - K K T - K K D - K K T - T - T -
Advanced: Doum Teka Tek Teka Doum Teka Teka Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 -
D - TK T - TK D - TK TK T - T -
MALFOUF (ملفوف) / SAUDI (سعودي)/ KHALIJI (خليجى) 2/4
Basic (Malfouf): Doum Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - - T - - T -
Medium (Malfouf): Doum Ka Ka Tek Ka Ka Teka
1 - + - 2 - + -
D K K T K K TK
Advanced (Malfouf): Doum Ka Tek Ka Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - K T - K T -
Basic (Saudi / Khaliji): Doum Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - - D - - T -
Medium (Saudi / Khaliji): Doum Ka Doum Ka Teka
1 - + - 2 - + -
D - K D - K TK
MAQSOUM (مقسوم) 4/4
Basic: Doum Tek p Tek Doum p Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - p - T - D - p - - T - -
Medium 1: Doum Tek Ka Ka Tek Doum Ka Ka Tek Ka Ka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - K K T - D - K K T - K K
Medium 2: Doum Tek Teka Tek Doum Teka Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - T - TK- T - D - TK T - TK-
Advanced: Doum Slap Teka Slap Doum Teka Slap Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - S - TK - S - D - TK- S - TK-
MASMOUDI (مصمودي) / MASMOUDI KABIR (مصمودي كبي) 8/4
Basic 1: Doum Doum p Tek Doum p Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - D - - - p - - - T - - - D - - - p - - - T - - - T - - -
Basic 2: Doum Doum Doum Tek Doum p Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - D - - - D - - - T - - - D - - - p - - - T - - - T - - -
Medium: Doum Doum TekaTekaTek Doum TekaTekaTekTekaTekaTekTeka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - D - - - TK- TK- T - - - D - TK-TK - T - TK - TK- T - TK-
Advanced: DoumDoumTekaTekaTekTekaDoumTekaTekaTekTekaTekaTekTeka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + - 5 - + - 6 - + - 7 - + - 8 - + -
D - - - D - - - TK- TK- T - TK- D - TK-TK - T - TK - TK- T - TK-
MASMOUDI SAGHIR (BALADI) ((بلدي) مصمودي صغير) 4/4
Basic: Doum Doum p Tek Doum p Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - D - p - T - D - - - T - - -
Medium: Doum Doum Teka Tek Doum Teka Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - D - TK- T - D -TK- T - TK -
Advanced: Doum Doum Tek Slap Doum Tek Slap Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - D - T - S - D - T - S - TK-
MOROCCAN 3/6/9 (مغربي) (may sometimes be called "filalia")
Basic (3): Tek Teka Doum
Medium (6): Tek Teka Doum Tek Doum Doum
Advanced (9): Tek Teka Doum Tek Doum Teka Doum Tek Doum
Advanced (12): Teka Teka Doum Ka Ka Teka Ka Doum Ka
SONBATI (سنباطي)/SOMBATI (سومباطي) 4/4
Basic: Doum Tek Tek Doum Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - - T - - T - D - - - T - - -
Medium: Doum Ka Tek Ka Tek Doum Ka Ka Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - K T - K T - D - K K T - TK
Advanced: Doum Ka Tek Ka Tek Doum Doum Ka Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - K T - K T - D - D K T - TK
ZAFFAH 4/4 (زفه)
Basic: Doum Teka Tek Tek Doum Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - TK T - T - D - T - T - - -
Medium 1: Doum Teka Tek Tek Doum Tek Tek Teka
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - TK T - T - D - T - T - TK
Medium 2: Doum Teka Tek Tek Doum Tek Doum
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - TK T - T - D - T - D - - -
Advanced: Doum Doum Doum Tek Teka Teka Tek Tek
1 - + - 2 - + - 3 - + - 4 - + -
D - D - D - T - TK- TK- T - T -
Want more rhythms? Be sure to check out the following sites:
Want to learn more about Tablas? Be sure to visit the About Tablas page where you can learn about the history of the Tabla in Arab, North African, Turkish, and Persian music as well as differetn names for the tabla and different styles of goblet drums. If you already have a Tabla and want to know how to care for it, repair it, or tighten the head visit our Care of Tablas page.
